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Dr Stuart McKie

@bigfridge224.bsky.social

1.4K followers 430 following 350 posts

Researching Roman magic and trying not to accidentally summon demons. Forever DM, Dad and Catholic.

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Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · 27d

I've restarted Hades. For some reason endlessly and fruitlessly trying to climb out of hell felt like a good activity for Right Now.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Sep 11

Amazing news! Congratulations Ellie

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Sep 7

All phones in this household got the alert so it's not a West Country thing!

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 29

Oh man I love basically everything about this film. The casting, music and costumes are all fantastic.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 20

Little Caligula booties!

Reposted by Dr Stuart McKie

Dr Christine Plastow @chrissieplastow.bsky.social · Aug 14

Here's your annual reminder: whether you received A-level results today, years ago, or never, there's space for you at the @openuniversity.bsky.social!

Reposted by Dr Stuart McKie

The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · Aug 13

We're 300 followers away from 70,000. 300 more would be really nice. But you know what would be even better? 300 plus 30,000.

Bluesky: help a museum out

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

90. Bath, UK. 2nd/3rd century. Sacred spring.

To the goddess Sulis . . . whether slave or free, <if> whoever he shall be, you are not to permit him eyes or health unless blindness and childlessness so long as he shall live, unless [he return?] these to the temple.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

89. Bath, UK. 2nd/3rd century. Sacred Spring.

. . . I Arminia, complain to you, Sulis, [that] you consume Verecundinus
(son of) Terentius, who has [stolen . . .] two silver coins from me. You are not to permit [him] to sit or lie [or . . . or] to walk [or] (to have) sleep [or] health, [since] you are to consume (him) as soon as possible; and again . . . [not] to reach . . .

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

88. Bath, UK. 3rd century. Sacred spring.

Exsuperius gives an iron pan(?). (The person) who . . . innocence for him . . . of (?) Sulis, whether man [or woman], whether slave or free . . . this . . . and . . . have stolen his . . ., whether man or woman, is to have given satisfaction with their blood. You are to reclaim(?) this [if] anyone has stolen the vessel from me.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

87. Bath, UK. 3rd/4th century. Sacred spring.

Uricalus, Docilosa his wife, Docilis his son and Docilina, Decentinus his brother, Alogiosa: the names of those who have sworn <who have sworn> at the spring of the goddess Sulis on the 12th of April. Whosoever has perjured himself there, you are to make him pay for it to the goddess Sulis in his own blood.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

86. Bath, UK. 4th century. Sacred spring.

Whether pagan or Christian, whosoever, whether man or woman, whether boy or girl, whether slave or free, has stolen from me, Annianus (son of) Matutina (?), six silver coins from my purse, you, lady goddess, are to exact [them] from him. If through some deceit he has given me . . . do not give thus to him, but
reckon as(?) the blood of him who has invoked this upon me.
Postuminus, Pisso, Locinna, Alauna, Materna, Gunsula, Candidina, Euticius, Peregrinus, Latinus, Senicianus, Avitianus, Victor, Scotius, Aessicunia, Paltucca, Calliopis, Celerianus.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

85. Bath, UK. 3rd/4th century. Sacred spring.

I curse (him) who has stolen, who has robbed Deomiorix from his house. Whoever (stole his) property, the god is to find him. Let him buy it back with (his) blood and his own life.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

184. Bath, UK. 3rd/4th century. Sacred spring.

The name of the thief, whether slave or free, whether boy or girl . . .

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

83. Caerleon, UK. 1st/2nd century. Amphitheatre.

Lady Nemesis, I give to you a cloak and pair of shoes. Let him who stole them not redeem (himself?) except with his life, his blood.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

82. London, 2nd/3rd century. Amphitheatre.

I give to the goddess Diana (my) headgear and band less one-third. If anyone has done this, whether boy or girl, whether slave or free, I give him, and through me let him be unable to live.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

81. Clothall, date unknown. Grave.

I wrote a blog post about this one a long time ago! mckies.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/c...

Tacita, hereby accursed, is labelled old like putrid gore.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

80. Wanborough, UK. 2nd century, context unknown.

. . . I pray to you, I beg . . . I beg to deliver to your judgement (the man who) stole from me, that you do not permit him to drink nor eat nor wake nor sleep nor walk and that you do not allow any part (of him) to live or of the family from which he springs . . . nor nourishment . . . they may speak very violently . . . they know for certain . . . if . . .

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

79. Pagan's Hill, UK. 3rd century, near a temple.

[To the god Mercury?] . . . in three thousand denarii, of which (I give) you half portion on condition that you exact it from Vassicillus the son of [. . .]cominus and from his wife, since the coin which they have stolen from my house. You are not to permit them health nor to drink nor to eat nor to sleep [nor] to have healthy [children] unless they bring this [my] property to your temple. With repeated [prayers] I ask you that this [coin?] may come to be recovered [from the very] names of my [enemies].

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

78. Broomhill, UK. Date and context unknown.

(whoever) has stolen (it), taken (it), whether slave or free, do not forgive him his evildoing until you punish him within nine days, whether civilian or soldier, (whoever) has taken (it).

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

77. Krefeld-Gellep, DE. 1st century CE. Names written right-left.

Just as this writing is perverse, so will the gods despise them: Theudocsius, Lupicinus, Iustinianus, Leontius, Terentianus, Aelario, Hermoginis, Mastidius. Just as this is perverse, so shall they not be able to(?) . . . Nothing should be added to this.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

76. Cologne, DE. 1st century. Grave. Written retrograde.

Vaeraca, thus it is with your case: you act perversely, even as this writing is perverse.
Whatsoever you wish for us shall come down on your head.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

75. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 1st/2nd century. Grave.

I bring Fructus Gracilis and Aureus the adiutorium to the infernals.
Thus may he not be able to respond to questioning.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

74. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century. Grave.

The names of the enemies (are given) to . . . the infernals. The names of the enemies to the infernals: Optatus son of Silo, Faustus Ornatus, Terentius Attisso, Atticinus son of Ammo, Latinus son of Valerius, Adiutor son of Iulius, Tertius son of Domitius, Masuetus son of Senodatius, Montanus the timber merchant, Aninius Victor, Quartio son of Severus, Sinto son of Valens, Lutumarus the butcher, Similis son of Crescens, Lucanius son of Silo, Communis son of Mercator, Publius the dyer, Aemilius Silvanus, Cossus son of Matuinus.

Dr Stuart McKie @bigfridge224.bsky.social · Aug 13

73. Bad Kreuznach, DE. 2nd century. Grave.

Sinto Valentis or any other enemies. Sinto Valentinus the enemy. Just as this lead will fall, so shall fall Sinto and Martialis of Sinto and the assistant of Sinto and whoever is against Rubrius my brother and me Quartio, if anyone will have opposed (us), I give Sinto and the assistant of Sinto to the infernals. Just as nowhere against us . . . of an answer, when enemies speak. In the same way that he does not choose a parent, he does not choose the infernals.